Weight lift type exercising device

ABSTRACT

Weights pivoted by two weight bars to a flat board. The weights are detachably connected to the end terminals of the weight arms. A roll bar is pivoted to the weight arms by means of lift arms so that the roll bar may be positioned at different angles with the weight arms so as to accommodate different size persons.

United States Patent Billy D. Madden 508 West 4th, Odessa, Tex. 79760 828,478

May 28, 1969 Apr. 6, 1971 Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented WEIGHT LIFT TYPE EXERCISING DEVICE 5 Claims, 11 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 272/81 Int. Cl ..A63b 21/20. A631) 23/04, A63b 23/07 Field of Search 272/81, 83, 82, 80, 70, 58

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,223,309 11/1940 Swanson 272/83 2,855,199 10/1958 Noland et al. 272/81X 3,116,062 12/1963 Zinkin 272/81 3,120,954 2/1964 Apostol 272/58 3,475,024 10/1969 Lewis 272/81 Rrimary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-William R Browne Attorney-Charles W. Coffee ABSTRACT: Weights pivoted by two weight bars to a flat board. The weights are detachably connected to the end terminals of the weight arms. A roll bar is pivoted to the weight arms by means of lift arms so that the roll bar may be positioned at different angles with the weight arms so as to accommodate different size persons.

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WEIGHTLIFI TYPE EXERCISING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to exercisers and more particularly to weights pivoted by arms to flat boards.

2. Description of the Prior Art Generally, leg exercisers having weight arms pivoted to a flat board are known. However, in general, there is fixed relationship between the leg-engaging roll bar and the pivot so that adjustment is necessary. Examples of the prior art are Apostol, US. Pat. No. 3,120,954, and Noland et al. U.S. Pat. No. 2,855,199.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 1 have invented an exercise device having a flat board with a weight attached by arms which are pivoted thereto. About two-thirds of the length of the weight arms are pivoted roller arms carrying a roll bar which may be engaged by a part of the body, e.g., the ankle. Because the roller arm is pivoted to the weight arms, it can always be engaged in the proper position by the ankles or other body members without necessitating adjustment.

An object of this invention is to provide an exerciser which is adaptable for different size people without any adjustment.

Other objects are to achieve the above with a device that is sturdy, compact, lightweight, durable, simple, safe, versatile, efficient, and reliable, yet inexpensive and easy to manufacture, transport, operate, and maintain.

Further objects are to achieve the above with a method that is lightweight, efficient, rapid, safe, and inexpensive, and does not require skilled people to install, adjust, operate, and maintain.

The specific nature of the invention, as well as other objects, uses, and advantages thereof, will clearly appear from the following description and from the accompanying drawing, the different views of which are not necessarily to the same scale.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a top-plan view of an exercise device according to one embodiment of this invention, shown with additional weights disconnected therefrom and parts broken away for clarity.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 of FIG. 1 with additional weights disconnected therefrom.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the device with the roll bar in a lifted position, with a portion of the body of the person exercising thereon shown in dashed lines, and with the weights in lower position.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 with the weights in an elevated position.

FIGS. 5-11 are views similar to FIG. 3 with the person shown exercising thereon, the second position shown in dashed line. These FIGS. 5-ll show typical examples of the way the exercise device may be used.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Plywood base is conveniently covered with padding and some suitable leatherlike covering. The plywood base is about five-twelfths as wide as it is long. About one-sixth of the length of the base from pivot end 12, two weight arms 14 are pivoted by pivots 16 to the plywood base 10. The weight arms 14 are approximately five-sixths the length of plywood base 10. Weight bar 18 is attached at the end of the arms 14. This weight bar 18 is a 9-pound bar and is attached to each of the arms 14 by wing nut 20. It is also drilled with a pair of holes 22 so that additional weights 24 and 26 may be attached thereto by bolts (not shown). Each of the additional weights 24 and 26 weigh some convenient increment such as 4%pounds so that the total weight can be either 9 pounds, l3lpounds, or 18 pounds. The arms 14 are made of aluminum tubing so their weight is negligible.

About two-thirds the length of the arms 14 from the pivots 16 (or about one-third the distance from weight 10) lift arms 28 are pivoted by pivots 30 to the weight arms 14. The lifts anns 28 are about one-third as long as the weight anns 14 or approximately two-ninths of the length of the plywood base 10 itself. Padded roll bar 32.is attached at the end of the lift arms 28. When the roll bar 32 swings up, it may be readily engaged by any part of the human body such as the ankles and will automatically be the correct length for the size person using it. For example, specifically referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, it may be seen there illustrated a person using it with the ankles engaged under the roll bar. It will be seen and understood that regardless of the length from the knee to the ankle, the roll bar 32 will fit the ankle because the lift arms 28 are articulated to the weight arms 14.

The pivot 16 of the weight arm 14 to the base 10 is so constructed that it has projection 34 which will engage against a portion 36 of ear 38 which is bolted to the base 10. Therefore, as clearly seen in FIG. 4, the weight bars can pivot only to a certain point, i.e., about This eliminates any danger that the weight arms 14 will pass center and fall, which would cause weight 18 to hit the back of the person using the exerciser.

FIGS. 5-l1 illustrate the different ways in which the exerciser may be used. E.g., specifically describing them:

FIG. 5 shows the person lying on his back and catching either one or both ankles under the roll bar and lifting the weights, keeping his knees straight and bending his legs at the hip.

FIG. 6 shows the person lying on one side, placing the ankle of one leg under the roll bar and bending the leg sideways at the hip.

FIG. 7 shows the person lying on his stomach, placing one or both ankles under the roll bar and raising one or both legs, keeping his knees straight, and bending the legs at the hip.

FIG. 8 shows the person lying on his stomach with one or both legs under the roll bar and raising one or both legs, bending the leg at the knee.

FIG. 9 shows the person lying on his back with his knees flexed and his feet under the roll bar, using roll bar as an anchor for situps.

FIG. 10 shows the person lying on his back holding the roll bar with his hands and raising the weight with his arms held straight.

FIG. 11 shows the person lying on his back and grasping the roll bar with either one or both hands, flexing his shoulders and elbows to raise the weights.

Thus it may be seen that I have provided a simple exercise device, which is versatile and is adaptable for several different exercises, there never being a need to adjust the position of the roll bar.

1 have found that a base size of 36 inches by 15 inches is a 3 convenient size for the average user with a weight-arm length of 28%inches and a lift arm of 8%inches is suitable for most applications.

The embodiments shown and described above are only exemplary. I do not claim to have invented all the parts, elements or steps described. Various modifications can be made in the construction, material, arrangement, and operation, and still be within the scope of my invention. The limits of the invention and the bounds of the patent protection are measured by and defined in the following claims. The restrictive description and drawing of the specific example above do not point out what an infringement of this patent would be, but are to enable the reader to make and use the invention.

I claim:

1. An exercise device comprising:

a. a flat base, having:

i. two ends; and ii. two sides; b. two weight anns pivoted by base pivots to the base at the sides so that: i. one arm extends along each side; and ii. the arms terminate at the end of the board;

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 with the additional limitations of:

f. said lift arms pivoted to said weight arms about two-thirds the length from the base pivots. 4. The invention as defined in claim 3 with the additional limitations of:

g. additional weight bars attached to said weight bar. 5. The invention as defined in claim 4 with the additional limitations of:

h. the lift arms being about one-third the length of the weight arms. 

1. An exercise device comprising: a. a flat base, having: i. two ends; and ii. two sides; b. two weight arms pivoted by base pivots to the base at the sides so that: i. one arm extends along each side; and ii. the arms terminate at the end of the board; c. a weight bar attached to the terminal end of said weight arms; d. two lift arms pivoted to the weight arms between the base pivots and the weight bar, said lift arms being pivotable from a position lying in a plane joining the two weight arms to a position forming an acute angle with the weight arms; and e. a roll bar connecting the ends of the lift arms.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1 with the additional limitations of: f. additional weight bars attached to the aforesaid weight bar.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 1 with the additional limitations of: f. said lift arms pivoted to said weight arms about two-thirds the length from the base pivots.
 4. The invention as defined in claim 3 with the additional limitations of: g. additional weight bars attached to said weight bar.
 5. The invention as defined in claim 4 with the additional limitations of: h. the lift arms being about one-third the length of the weight arms. 